Filtering system.



N0. 808,924. PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

H. L. HOLLIS.

FILTERING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 808,924. PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

H. L. HOLLIS. FILTERING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZ. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HE L- HD1115 HENRY L. HOLLIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FILTERING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Application filed July 2, 1904. Serial No. 215,090.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. HoLLIs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chi cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Filtering Systems, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to filtering apparatus which may be used for thefiltration of a great variety of liquids or fluids, and I have hereinillustrated the invention to be employed in metallurgicaloperations-such, for instance, as the well-known cyanid process.

The object of my invention is to secure the convenient removal from thefiltering surface or wall of the solid material separated in filteringin an inexpensive and effective manner.

My invention provides means such that the filtering apparatus may beemployed almost continuously, there being but slight interruptionsrequired for the purpose of cleaning the filtering-surfaces My inventionconsists in the apparatus hereinafter set forth, and finally embodied inthe appended claims.

In carrying out my invention I employ a movable filtering apparatus, thefilter proper consisting of one or more closed compartments orfilter-chambers, these chambers being provided with filtering surfacesor walls of canvas or duck or other suitable material. If a number ofcompartments are employed,

these are preferably connected by pipes with a pump or air-reservoir orother means for exhausting the air and fluid from the interior of thechambers. Over each of the filtering surfaces of the filter proper,

and completely covering the same is attaohed, by means of hooks orotherwise, a piece of pervious materialsuch,for instance, as thingauze-like cotton cloth. Jpon exhausting the air from the inside of thefilter- 1 ing chambers the detachable cloths are drawn against thefiltering walls or surfaces. The filtering-chambers are immersed in asuitable receptacle containing the liquid to be filtered, the fluidbeing drawn through the filter-walls and the solid material being collected on the detachable screens and held there partly by suction andpartly by its own consistency. After the filtration has proceeded untilsufficient material has accumulated on the detachable cloths the wholefilter proper is removed from this receptacle, (the suction beingcontinued.) If so desired, the filter may then be immersed in a secondreceptacle containing comparatively clean water, and by continuing thesuction this water is drawn through the material on the screen, therebycleaning this material from the liquid with which it was previouslyintermingled and at the same time practically all of the fluid from thematerial to be filtered is recovered and retained. After thus beingcleaned the filter proper is removed from this washing-receptacle andthe detachable cloths, with the adherin separated material are removedfrom the fi teringsurfaces. Clean cloths are attached to thefilter-walls in place of those removed, and the foregoing process isrepeated. The cloths which are removed may be cleaned and then usedagain in the same way. In cases where the solid material in suspensionsettles quickly the liquid may be agitated either before or during thefiltration process by means of compressed air blown into the liquid,thus securing a homo eneous mixture of the material. In cases w iere itis not necessary to clean the separated solid matter or to save all ofthe fluid from the first bath the treatment of washing in the secondreceptacle may be omitted.

My invention will be more clearly understood byreference to theaccompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 illustrates in a general Waythe arrangement of the apparatus to be employed. Fig. 2 illustrates in aperspective view one of the filter-chambers and its detachable mantle orscreen, and Fig. 3 shows an end view of the filter proper and the slingby means of which it maybe removed from the receptacles employed.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of thedrawings.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention a suitable receptacle 11 ismore or less completely filled with the fluid to be filtered, this fluidcontaining solid matter in suspension. The filter proper comprises aseries of filter chambers 12 12, the construction of these chambersbeing clearly indicated in Fig. 2. Each chamber is provided with a frame13, to the sides of which are fastened the filter-walls 14 and 15. Thesefilter-Walls may be made of any suitable material, and in carrying outthe well-known cyanid process points 16 is provided near the peripheryof the filter-wall, upon which the detachable cloths may be hooked tohold them in place until the filtering operation has begun. The

'filterchambers are mounted upon a frame 16, this frame being suspendedfrom the slings 17 17. with an eyebolt 19, by means of which the crane20 may lift the entire filter from the receptacle 11, as willhereinafter be more fully explained.

Fig. 1 shows one of the filter-chambers in cross-sectionas, forinstance, on the line 1 1 of Fig. 3. This cross-sectional view shows thefilter-walls and the adhering screens in place. An iron pipe 21 isprovided with connections to the various filter-chambers, as indicatedat 22. A flexible tube or hose 23 connects the interior of all of thefilter-chambers with a reservoir 24, the valve 25 serving to close thetube when desired. The air or vacuum pump 26 serves to withdraw air fromthe upper part of the reservoir 25, thereby creating a suction whichserves to draw the fluid from the tank 11 through the filter-walls andby way of the hose 23 to the reservoir 24, from which the fluid may bewithdrawn at suitable intervals by means of the valve 27.

In carrying out the filtering operation the suction is continued until aconsiderable quantity of the solid material has accumulated on the outersurfaces of the detachable screens or cloths, when the crane is broughtinto operation to remove the entire filter proper from the tank 11 andto transfer it to the washing tank or receptacle 28. This tank containsWater for washing purposes. The suction is continued until after thefilter proper has been immersed in the water, whereupon a portion of thewater is drawn through the filter walls, thereby cleansing the solidmatter collected on the outer surface and saving also the fluidintermingled with the accumulated deposit. If it is unnecessary orundesirable to wash the accumulated deposit in this way or to save allof the fluid, the washing operation may be dispensed with and the outercloths or screens be at once removed from the filtering-surface when thefilter is withdrawn from the tank 11. Upon removing the screens to whichthe accumulated deposit adheres fresh cloths The cross-bar 18 isprovided are hooked upon the filter chamber in their place, and uponcausing a decrease of pressure in the filter-chambers the screens aredrawn into contact with the filterwalls,where upon the filter is againimmersed in the tank 11 and the operations again repeated.

I have found it desirable in certain in stances to provide a nozzle 29for injecting compressed air into the liquid for the purpose ofagitating in order to present a homogeneous material for the operationof the filter-walls.

In Fig. 3 there is shown an end view of the filter proper and the slingby means of which the filter may be withdrawn from the receptacles inwhich it is immersed.

WVhile I have herein described a preferred embodiment of the apparatusfor carrying out this process, I do not wish to be limited {)0 theprecise disclosures herein described;

Having explained my invention, I claim as i new and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1 In a system of exhaust filtration, the combination witha receptacle containing the material to be filtered, of a filter-chamberin said receptacle, a pervious cloth adjacent to the outer surface ofthe filter-wall, and means for detachably securing said pervious clothin place.

2. In a system of filtration, the combination with a filter-chamber, adetachable pervious screen adjacent to the surface of a filter-wall ofsaid chamber, means for supply ing material to be filtered to one sideof the wall of said chamber, and means for reducing the pressure uponthe other side of said wall.

8. In a system of filtration, the combination with a filter-chamber, adetachable perviousscreen adjacent to the surface of a filter-wall ofsaid chamber, means for supplying material to be filtered to one side ofthe wall of said chamber, and means for withdrawing fluid from saidfilter-chamber.

4. In a system of exhaust filtration, the combination with a suitablereceptacle containing the material to be filtered, of a filterchamber insaid receptacle, a detachable pervious screen adjacent to the outersurface of a filter-wall of said chamber, means for withdrawing thefl'uid from the interior of said filter-chamber, and means for removingsaid filter-chamber from the receptacle.

5. In a system of exhaust filtration, the combination with a suitablereceptacle containing the material to be filtered, of a filter chamberin said receptacle, a detachable pervious screen. adjacent to the outersurface of a filter-wall of said chamber, means for withdrawing thefluid from the interior of said filter-chamber, means for removing saidfilterchamber from the receptacle, and means for agitating the materialwithin said receptacle.

6. In a system of filtration, the combination with a receptaclecontaining the mate- IIO rial to be filtered, a filter proper in saidreceptacle, a detachable screen adjacent to a filter-wall of saidfilter, a pump for .producing a suction tocause the passage of fluidsuccessively through said screen and said filterwall, means forcollecting the filtered fluid, a secondreceptacle containing water forwashing purposes, and means for moving said filter proper from onereceptacle to the other.

7. In a system of filtration, the combination with a suitable filterproper, of a detachable screen adjacent to a filter-wall of said filter,and means for causing a difference in pressure on the two sides of saidfilter-wall.

8. In a system of filtration, the combination with a suitable filterproper, of a detachable screen adjacent to a filter-wall of said filter,and means for causing a decrease in the pressure on the opposite side ofthe filterwall from that upon which the detachable screen is placed.

9. In a filtering system, the combination with a filter-wall, of adetachable screen covering the outer surface of the filter-wall, andmeans for reducing the pressure on the inner side of the filter-wall.

10. In a system of exhaust filtration, the combination with a receptaclecontaining the material to be filtered, of a second receptaclecontaining water for washing purposes, a filter proper comprising aplurality of filterchambers each having suitable canvas filterwalls, adetachable gauze-like cloth adjacent to the outer surface of each ofsaid filterwalls, means for holding said cloths in place during thefiltering operation, means for withdrawing air and fluid from theinterior of said filter-walls, and means for transferring said filterproper from one receptacle to the other and for removing it from both,whereupon said gauze-like cloths may be changed, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a system of exhaust filtration, the combination with a receptaclecontaining the material to be filtered, of a filter proper com prising aplurality of filter chambers each having suitable canvas filter-walls, adetachable gauze-like screen adjacent to the outer surface of each ofsaid filter-walls, means for holding said cloths in place during thefiltering operation and prior to immersion in thematerial to befiltered, and means for creating suction within the filter-chambers.

12-. In a system of exhaust filtration, the combination with areceptacle containing the material to be filtered, of a secondreceptacle containing water for washing purposes, a filter propercomprising a plurality of filterchambers each having suitablefilter-walls, a detachable gauze-like cloth adjacent to the outersurface of each of said filter-- walls, means for holding said cloths inplace during the filtering operation, means for Withdrawing air andfluid from the interior of said filter-Walls, and means for transferringsaid filter proper from one receptacle to the other and for removing itfrom both, whereupon said gauze-like cloths may be changed,substantially as described.

13'. In a system of exhaust filtration, the combination with areceptacle containing the material to be filtered, of a filter propercomprising a plurality of filter chambers each having suitable filterwalls, a detachable gauze-like screen adjacent to the outer sur face ofeach of said filter-walls, means for holding said cloths in place duringthe filter; ing operation and prior to immersion in the material to befiltered, and means for creating suction within the filter-chambers.

14. In a system of exhaust filtration, the combination with a receptaclecontaining the material to be filtered, of a second receptaclecontainingwaterfor washing purposes, afilter proper comprising aplurality of filter-chambers each having suitable filter-walls, adetachable gauze-like screen adjacent to the outer surface of eachfilter-wall, a reservoir, a flexible tube connecting said reservoir withthe chambers of said filter proper, a pump for exhausting the air fromsaid reservoir, and means for transferring said filter proper from onereceptacle to the other and for removing it from both, whereupon saidgauzelike screens may be renewed.

15. In a filtering system, the combination with a tank containing thematerial to be filtered, of a filtering medium, means for alternatelyintroducing said medium into and re moving the same from said tank,means for drawing the contained material throughsaid filtering mediumwhile in the tank, and ascreen outside of the filtering medium forremoving the solid material fiom said filtering medium, while saidmedium is outside the tank.

16. In a filtering system, the combination with a tank for containingthe material to be filtered and a water-tank, of a filter, means forintroducing and removing the same into and from each of said tanksalternately, and means for drawing the contents of said tanks throughthe filtering medium into detachable cloth provided with fine meshesexternal to said filtering medium for removing the solid material fromsaid filtering medium.

17. In a filter, the combination with a filtering medium, of apipeextending into said medium, a pump connected therewith forintermittently producing a drawing action, and a fine-meshed detachablescreen for removing the solid material from said filtering medium,substantially as described.

18. In a filtering system, the combination with a tank for containingthe material to be filtered and a tank for containing a cleansingliquid, of a filter, means for introducing and removing the same intoand from the firstmentioned tank and for introducing and removing sameinto and from the second-mentioned tank, means for drawing the materialcontained in the first-mentioned tank through the filtering medium whilethe filter is within the tank and for drawing the liquid from the secondmentioned tank through the filter while therein, and a detachable screenfor removing the solid material from the filter.

19. In a filtering system, the combination with a suitable filteringmedium, of a tube communicatin with the interior thereof, a pump forproducing an intermittent drawing action within said tube, and adetachable cloth adjacent to the filtering medium to entangle and engagethe solid material and for removing the same from the surface of thefilterin medium.

20. In a filtering system, the combination with a tank for containingthe material to be filtered and a cleansing-fluid tank, of a filter,means for introducing and removing the same into and from said tanksalternately, means for drawing the contents of said tanks through saidfilter, and a fine-meshed screen for removing foreign substances fromthe surface of said filter after its removal from the the tankcontaining the cleansing fluid.

21. In a filter, the combination with a suitable receptacle for thematerial to be filtered, of a filter proper, means for introducing thesame into and removing the same from said receptacle, means forproducing a drawing action through said filter while in the receptacle,and a detachable fine-meshed screen outside of the filter through whichthe fluid must pass before reaching the filtering medium, means forremoving said screen with the solid material engaged thereby, and asecond screen for substitution in place of that removed.

22. In a filtering system, the combination with a suitable tank forcontaining the material to be filtered, of a filter comprising aplurality of plates, filtering means carried there by, a tubecommunicating with the interior of said filtering means, means forintroducing and removing said filter proper into and from said tank,means for drawing the material contained in said tank through saidfiltering medium and through said tube, and a bodily-removablecleansing-screen outside of said filtering means through which the fluidmust be drawn in passing from the tank through said filtering means.

23. In a system of filtration, the combination with a receptaclecontaining the material to be filtered, of a filter chamber in saidreceptacle having pervious stationary side walls, means for creatingsuction in said filter-chamber, additional pervious side walls for saidfilter-chamber, and hooks from which said additional walls may besuspended and from which said walls may be readily detached to removetherefrom the accumulated material after filtration.

24. In a system of exhaust filtration, the combination with a receptaclecontaining the solution to be filtered, of a filter-chamber in saidreceptacle, said filter-chamber consisting of a frame to the sides ofwhich are permanently secured walls of pervious material, hooksextending from the sides of said frame, and additional side walls ofpervious material stretched between said hooks and readily detachabletherefrom, whereby the material accumulated on said additional wallsafter filtration may be removed from the fil ter-chamber.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of June,A. 1)., 1904.

HENRY L. HOLLIS.

Witnesses:

HARVEY L. HANsoN, CHARLES A. BROWN.

